Eve Curie Labouisse
1904-2007
Eve Curie Labouisse (1904-2007), the second daughter of Pierre and Marie Curie and sister of Irène Joliot-Curie, was a renowned writer, pianist, heroine of Free France, journalist, and French diplomat. She is best known for her biography of her mother, “Madame Curie”. Eve Curie’s life embodies her commitment to the ideals of freedom and justice.
Youth and Artistic Career
Born on December 6, 1904, in Paris, Eve Curie was the youngest child of Nobel Prize laureates Pierre and Marie Curie. Unlike her family, Eve chose an artistic path, beginning a career as a pianist. Trained by the Polish virtuoso Ignacy Jan Paderewski, she made her debut in Paris in 1925. Eve also pursued a brief career as a model, posing for Lanvin and Schiaparelli, thanks to her beauty and elegance.
Literary Contributions
Eve shared a close and affectionate relationship with her mother, Marie Curie. After her mother’s death in 1934, Eve meticulously organized the letters and documents left behind. In 1937, she published “Madame Curie,” the first biography of Marie Curie, translated into 35 languages and becoming an international bestseller. This book remains popular among admirers of Marie Curie and visitors to the Curie Museum.
War Efforts and Journalism
During World War II, after the French defeat, Eve went to the United Kingdom and joined the Free French Forces, working closely with General de Gaulle. As a liaison officer and war correspondent, she traveled to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, reporting on the war and meeting influential leaders such as Chiang Kai-shek, Gandhi, and Nehru. Her experiences were chronicled in her 1944 book, “Journey Among Warriors.”
Diplomatic Career and Humanitarian Work
In 1952, Eve Curie became a special advisor to the Secretary-General of NATO, marking her entry into diplomacy. She married American Henry Labouisse in 1954, and together they championed children’s rights through UNICEF. Labouisse received the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of UNICEF in 1965. The couple traveled to over 100 countries, promoting humanitarian causes.
Legacy and Honors
Eve Curie served as an administrator of the Curie Foundation from 1957 to 1967 and played a crucial role in preserving her parents’ legacy. In 2005, she was promoted to the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honor by France for her humanitarian efforts. Eve passed away on October 22, 2007, in New York, at the age of 103.
Eve Curie’s commitment to her family’s legacy and her contributions to literature, journalism, and humanitarian work make her a remarkable figure of the 20th century. Her bequest to the Curie Museum facilitated its renovation in 2012, and her private archives were deposited by her family at the museum’s Historical Resource Center in 2009.